10 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



FOUNDATIONS. 



There are many ideas relating to the correct foundation for a long continuous 

 house, but there is no set rule to go by. An air-space is desirable under the floor to 

 prevent rotting "of the floor-timbers and the floor." itself. If a house be built so 

 that the floor-timbers are placed upon boulders at the ends and at short spaces 

 between, or on 4-foot posts set 6 feet apart, with 8 or 10 inches above the ground, 

 there would be a good circulation under the house in warm weather. In winter one 

 can bank up around the house to keep the cold air from blowing under by ploughing 

 a single furrow, throwing the dirt against the house. Although a little extra labour 

 is involved in this method, the dirt banked against the house can be taken from the 

 immediate back. In this way a ditch is formed which will carry the water away 

 as it runs off the roof. 



A foundation of cement is strong and more durable than any other if constructed 

 properly. When building a cement foundation it is advisable to dig a trench from 

 15 to 20 inches in depth directly under where the walls of the house are to be. 



It la necessary to keep the house on a level plane. We would suggest the hire 

 of a team, man. and scoop shovel for a day in such an instance to take the dirt from 

 the slope and level the same to a certain extent. 



The ditch should then be filled with coarse gravel to about 5 inches from the 

 ground-level. Then construct the cement wall G or 8 inches thick to a level of 4 or 6 

 inches above the highest point of the ground-level on a level plant. 



The material should be well mixed in proportions of 1 part cement, 3 parts sand, 

 and 5 parts coarse gravel, to withstand the weight of the building. Tiles may be 

 placed in the concrete on the south side between the ground-level and the floor to 

 allow air-circulation and thus prevent the floor-timbers from rotting. 



